Mashantuckets re-elect pair to tribal council

Mashantucket — Two incumbent members of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council were re-elected Sunday in voting among tribal members.

Marjorie Colebut-Jackson, the council’s secretary, and Fatima Dames won new three-year terms, the tribe announced. Six other tribal members had declared themselves candidates for the two council seats up for election.

Colebut-Jackson won a fourth term while Dames was elected for a third time.

The seven-member council then elected Councilor Crystal Whipple vice chairwoman, an office that had been held by Dames.

In a special election held Oct. 24, tribal members elected Jean Swift to the council seat vacated by Steven Thomas, the former council treasurer who resigned before pleading guilty to a federal felony charge of stealing from the tribe. Swift will serve the remaining two years of Thomas’ term.

The council’s other members are Chairman Rodney Butler, Roy Colebut-Ingram and Steven Colebut. The council oversees tribal government as well as management of the tribe’s Foxwoods Resort Casino.